STELL A BELL A ARABIANS: “BEAUTIFUL STAR”
“Beautiful Star”
by KRISTI HOPP
Although he grew up in a small town in Texas, Dr. Ben Bassichis has fond childhood memories of his family travelling to Israel where he rode Arabian horses bareback across the desert. Years later, after establishing a successful plastic surgery practice in Dallas, Texas, his admiration for the breed only re-emerged when his horse-crazy daughters began taking riding lessons. By the end of 2014, he and his wife Michelle, and their
three children, Sara, Max and Rebecca, found themselves wholly immersed in the Arabian horse lifestyle and Stella Bella Arabians was born. Perry Payson originally introduced the Bassichis family to the Arabian horse industry in the United States. As a top handler of show dogs, one of Perry’s clients was working as a nurse in Dr. Ben’s surgery center. When Dr. Bassichis discussed his Ar abian Horse Times | 37 | Volume 49, No. 3
daughter’s enthusiasm for horses and his own youthful memories of riding Arabians, she suggested he contact Perry. Payson embraced the opportunity to share his passion for Arabians with Dr. Ben and the entire Bassichis family. “I drove to his Dallas office to meet him,” Payson recalls. “Dr. Ben was such a kind gentleman; the office had a great atmosphere and was very professional. I also noticed the